Tornadoes of 1949

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1949, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

Tornadoes of 1949
TimespanJanuary 3 — December 23
Maximum rated tornadoF4 tornado
  • 19 different locations
    on 13 different days
Tornadoes in U.S.≥279
Damage (U.S.)Unknown
Fatalities (U.S.)≥217
Fatalities (worldwide)>217

This was the final year where tornadoes were not officially surveyed by the U.S. Weather Bureau, which would later become the National Weather Service, as well as the final year where tornadoes had no official rating. All documented significant tornadoes prior to 1950 were given unofficial ratings by tornado experts like Thomas P. Grazulis. In subsequent years, the documentation of tornadoes became much more widespread and efficient, with the average annual tornado count being around 1,253.[1]

Events

United States yearly total
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
≥71  ? ≥2? ≥135 ≥52 ≥19 ≥0 ≥279

January

January 3
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 5 5 1 0

An outbreak produced at least 11 destructive tornadoes across Kansas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. One particularly devastating tornado, which was estimated to be at F4 intensity, obliterated Warren, Arkansas, killing 55 people.[2][3] It is tied with the Fort Smith tornado from 1898 as the deadliest in Arkansas history.[4] A total of 60 people were killed from the outbreak.[5]

February

February 2

An estimated F2 tornado destroyed two farms houses southwest of Red Level, Alabama with five injuries in one of the homes. Livestock was killed on both farms as well.[6]

March

March 25
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
2 0 0 0 0 0 0

A tornado touched down northeast of Gorman in Eastland County, Texas and moved northeastward, destroying 15 of the 23 homes on the northwest side of Desdemona, Texas. In all, 16 homes were destroyed and a few farm buildings were hit by the tornado. Another tornado touched down in the same county 12 hours later, destroying a switching station.[5]

March 30
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
4 0 0 0 0 0 0

Four early morning tornadoes caused major damage and casualties in Oklahoma and Kansas. First, a destructive tornado struck Canton, Oklahoma killing three people, injuring 31 and causing $250,000 in damage in the town. The same tornado tore apart many farms in rural areas and killed a boy while he slept in his home east of Longdale. After the tornado lifted, another tornado touched down and caused mostly minor damage as it moved northeastward before intensifying and slamming the town of Blackwell. 100 homes were damaged, 13 more were destroyed, an elementary school was completely leveled, and a seven people were injured. Northwest of this tornado, another tornado touched down and moved through Grant County, destroying six farms and obliterating a school. One final tornado from the original storm touched down in Cowley County, Kansas, hitting five farms and destroying one home. Overall, the outbreak killed four and injured at least 31.[5]

April

April 30
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
14 0 0 0 0 0 0

An outbreak of at least 14 tornadoes struck Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. There were at least seven fatalities and one injury.[5]

May

May 6
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 0 1 1 0

Two tornadoes caused major damage in New Mexico and Texas. An F3 touched down in New Mexico and moved into Texas, leveling two homes near Bledsoe, Texas. An F4 caused major damage in Sundown, Texas. 14 homes were badly with two being swept away and a car and a truck were thrown considerable distances. A church and parsonage were also leveled, causing two fatalities.[5]

May 13
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 0 2 0 0

Two F3s touched down in Carson County, Texas northeast of Amarillo, destroying farms, farmhouses, and cars.[5]

May 15
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Two devastating tornadoes struck the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. An F4 hit Amarillo, killing seven people and injuring 82. This tornado remains Amarillo's strongest and costliest tornado.[7] Another F4 injured three people near Stratford after which it crossed into Oklahoma and killed an elderly man near Goodwell. Witnesses described the tornado as sounding like a "low-flying B-29".

May 17
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 0 3 1 0

Tornadoes touched down in Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, damaging or destroying numerous structures. An F4 killed one person near Spur, Texas.

May 20–21
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
33 0 0 6 3 4 0

Outbreak saw a violent tornado strike Palestine, Illinois on May 21. A restaurant was leveled, and cars in the parking lot were thrown up to 300 yd (900 ft) away from where they originated. The tornado was rated F4 by Grazulis, although some experts rated the tornado F5.[8][9][10] A total of 56 people were killed by this outbreak.[5][11]

June

June 17
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
2 0 0 0 0 0 0

Two tornadoes caused major damage to farm buildings and barns in Northeastern Colorado. One tornado killed three while the other killed two.[5]

October

October 9–10
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
1 0 0 9 1 0 0

A major tornado outbreak struck Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Two people were killed and two others were injured.[5]

August

August 30

An estimated F2 tornado tore the roof and ceilings off of a home in Montgomery, Alabama.[6]

November

November 24
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
0 0 0 2 0 1 0

Three deadly tornadoes struck Alabama. An estimated F4 tornado tore through Fairview, Oneonta and Tate's Gap, damaging or destroying 32 homes and 84 other structures. 100 head of cattle were killed and several of the homes were completely blown away. It caused 44 injuries and four fatalities with three of the fatalities occurring in an Easley home while the other took place in an Oneonta home. At the same time as this tornado, an estimated F2 tornado traveled from Hackneyville to Northeastern Alexander City. It picked up one house and tossed it 150 yards (140 m) into another house, where it was demolished. All 10 occupants, a woman and nine children, in the first house were killed while 10 more people in the other house were injured. Another estimated F2 tornado struck Sand Mountain, South Henagar, and North Mentone, although the damage path indicated that it only touched down on ridge tops. Three homes were destroyed, seven others were damaged, one person was killed and 20 others were injured. Overall, the tornadoes killed 15 and injured 74.[6]

December

December 11
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5
5 0 0 0 0 0 0

Multiple tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois. Seven people were killed and another person was injured.[5]

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Tornado Climatology | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  2. "A Tragic Record: January 3, 1949". www.argenweb.net. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. "1949 Warren, AR tornado". Hope Star. 4 January 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 7 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "North American Tornado Cases 1936 to 1949". bangladeshtornadoes.org. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  6. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Alabama Tornadoes 1949". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. "The 1949 tornado revisited: The twister by the numbers". News Channel 10 Amarillo. May 15, 2019.
  8. Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  9. Grazulis, Significant Tornadoes, 143–45; 147–48.
  10. Neal Lott; Sam McCown & Tom Ross (August 2000). "1998-1999 Tornadoes and a Long-Term U.S. Tornado Climatology" (PDF). National Climatic Data Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  11. "Violent Tornado Webpage". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
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